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Topic Review (Newest First)

08-30-2006 10:25 PM

wumhenry

According to the doctors, it was a bacterial infection, not venom or allergy to same. Question is, how was the germ introduced? They asked me how it got started, and I said I didn't know but suspected spiderbite. They thought that was possible.

08-29-2006 08:11 PM

sailingdog

Spiders generally don't eat humans...except in movies. They generally only bite humans in defense—the Australian Funnel Web Spider is an exception to this IMHO as it is just an evil, very poisonous beastie. Not all spiders spin webs, as many are hunting/jumping spiders.

A spider bite would generally cause either some swelling, like a typical bee sting, or in the case of some of the nastier spiders, which are neurotoxic or hemotoxic, there would be either problems with the CNS (Neurotoxic) or massive tissue damage (hemotoxic).

The swelling you've gotten sounds like either an allergic reaction to the bite, or a nice case of hemotoxic spider venom...which causes the blood vessels to lose cohesiveness and the area to swell up quite a bit. In either case, an antibiotic really wouldn't help much. Why did they administer antibiotics? Did the doctors find an infection??

If you suspected this was from a spider bite, it probably would have been wise to tell the ER doctors that, and the proper treatment would have been antivenin, which would help neutralize the venom in your arm.

Where were you sailing in your B29.9 when this bite occurred. The number of spiders in North America that are capable of this kind of damage are relatively few—primarily the brown recluse and the black widow IIRC.

08-29-2006 07:51 PM

wumhenry

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gene T

They gotta eat. Spiders eat bugs. If there are no bugs they starve or leave, after they eat the other spiders of course.

R U sure they can't live off sleeping humans when bugs are unavailale? Last summer, we used a friend's condo apt at the beach, which was closed tight when we arrived, with AC on and all doors and windows shut. When I flicked on the light in the bedroom i startled a big, fat, squishy spider tha was hanging from a thread over the bed. After killing the bugger, I got to thinking: how did it get so fat? There were no insects in the apt, and the spider had not bothered to spin a web.
When I came back from a weeklong cruise in my B29.9 last month, my right arm was infected and swollen up like a blimp, from elbow to wrist. Got it lanced in the ER and got intravenous antibiotic, took more antibiotic orally for 10 days, and the swelling still hasn't gone completely down, more than a month later, and I might have to have surgery. I don't know how I got the infection, but spiderbite is the prime suspicion.

08-29-2006 07:49 PM

bdevries

Quote:

Originally Posted by sailingdog

I try to keep this as clear as possible for the weaker minds that frequent this site.

Huh? *Looks confused and stops licking the 'No-Pest Strips'* What was that about these Darwin Award things? Do I get one if I name my boat the Beagle?

Thanks for the responses guys - I know more about how to get rid of spiders then I thought I would ever need

*Returns to my 'No-Pest Strip'*

08-29-2006 07:33 PM

sailingdog

Quote:

Originally Posted by resdog

That was my point...

I try to keep this as clear as possible for the weaker minds that frequent this site.

08-29-2006 05:10 PM

imiloa1

Spider attack

Our marina is also plagued by hoards of the juicy beasts. I have found a few things that work.
1 - Keep the boat deck and hull clean. Regular washdowns with boat soap helps keep the critters away.
2- A couple times during the season I spray the outside of the boat and the surrounding dock (top and undersides where I can get to it) with one of those insecticides that come in a bottle that can be attached to a garden hose. I do this when I'll be away for a few days.
3 - 2 or 3 times during the season I spray the wheel and sail covers with Hot Shot spider spray before I leave the boat for a few days.
4 - Keeping an open box of moth balls in the dock box seems to drive away most of the spiders.
5 - NEVER store the wheel or sail cover inside the boat.
6 - Every week or two vacuum the inside of the boat and keep the counters and storage areas free of spills and crumbs.

08-29-2006 01:48 PM

resdog

Quote:

Originally Posted by sailingdog

And probably be poisonous too... Hmm...leaving food out where you have pesticides hanging sounds like a good way to win a Darwin Award.

That was my point...

08-29-2006 12:56 PM

btrayfors

A couple of months ago my son pointed me towards a product sold by Home Depot which works very well. It's called, "Hot Shot - Home Insect", clear formula for use indoors and outdoors. Kills roaches, ants, spiders, and other insects. Comes in a 32-oz spray bottle. No odor, non-staining.

It is, of course, toxic. People and pets should not be allowed in sprayed areas until it dries.

I've used it on my sailboat in a marina which has to be the mother of all spider-generators. Most aggressive beasts I've ever seen. This stuff kills em, along with other insects. Works well for weeks until it gets washed off.

Bill

08-29-2006 12:20 PM

sailingdog

Quote:

Originally Posted by resdog

Shell No-Pest strips work great for spiders and Mud Daubers (wasps) if you can find them. Zip them up in a plastic bag when you come on board. The strip will last all summer. If you leave bread or crackers on board with the pest strip hanging, the bread/crackers will taste very bad.

And probably be poisonous too... Hmm...leaving food out where you have pesticides hanging sounds like a good way to win a Darwin Award.

08-29-2006 12:12 PM

resdog

Shell No-Pest strips work great for spiders and Mud Daubers (wasps) if you can find them. Zip them up in a plastic bag when you come on board. The strip will last all summer. If you leave bread or crackers on board with the pest strip hanging, the bread/crackers will taste very bad.

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